Week #4 Reflection

Between PicMonkey & Pixlr Editor I found many features that surprisingly had a strong relationship to photoshop, but also equally limited when compared to the features of a current version of the professional program.  The Pixlr Editor seems to have the closest resemblance to Photoshop.  Layout and all.  There are definitely big differences between Pixlr Editor and Photoshop, but there is enough that carries over where one can become very savvy using either program by learning one or the other.   

These programs mainly accept JPEG files. I could not open a RAW or PSD (Photoshop file). The various file formats for saving were nice but limited. I did like the choice of file sizes to start with. Even though it is very basic, I was impressed with the quick adjustments within PicMonkey. But once an adjustment is made there is no undoing.  The PicMonkey app is very similar to aviary, a photo editor I use for my cellphone photography. I was happy to see blending modes as a feature for different overlay effects. I am used to lots of layers in photoshop, so whenever a program has that option, it gets a check in my book! A downfall with editing with these programs is that they can be slow with large files, and in the case of a crash there is no recovery of the file.

For my posters I based them off a project I am doing with my students now based around portrait transformations.  I experimented with the layer features and tools with both PicMonkey & Pixlr Editor.  Knowing how to manipulate layers is probably one of the most important elements of working in photoshop.

I will definitely introduce these apps to my students.  It's great to know that they have access to a program that is similar to photoshop, from any computer they sit at.  The biggest problem in my class is the limit to access equipment and programs.  I am hoping to get to a point where students can take my class online and if using the Pixlr Editor app as a substitute to needing photoshop, I think I can make that dream become a reality.  As an educator this app can be a reassurance that with their photography work, my students can always have access to the digital tools necessary for them to be successful in my class.